A large devil ray with a long head bearing short head fins; dorsal fin plain, and pectoral fins with strongly curved, swept-back tips; upper disc densely covered with small, pointed denticles and tail shorter than disc with no spine. Dark blue, olive-green to brownish above; ventral side white anteriorly, grey posteriorly, with an irregular but distinct line of demarcation. No caudal fin.

Biology

Length: The Sicklefin Devil Ray is one of the largest mobulid species, attaining a maximum size of 370 cm disc width (DW). Size at maturity is 270–280 cm DW for females and 198–250 cm DW for males. Pup born at 120–130 cm DW. 

Gestation Period: Unknown

Litter Size: 1 large pup

Life Expectancy: A generation length of 12.8 years (inferred)

Diet: Feeds on small fishes and planktonic crustaceans.

Habitat and distribution

Habitat: The Sicklefin Devil Ray is primarily oceanic, but is also found in coastal waters, and appears to be a seasonal visitor along productive coastlines with regular upwelling in oceanic island groups, and near offshore pinnacles and seamounts. It has been observed travelling both in schools and in solitude. The species is highly mobile and capable of significant migrations. Tagged individuals have travelled over 3,800 km over seven months.

Distribution: The Sicklefin Devil Ray has a patchy circumglobal distribution and is found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans.

Depth: 0-1896 m

Landing sites: Junglighat, Cochin Fisheries Harbour, Royapuram, Thoothukudi, Mumbai, Veraval, Mangrol, Porbander, Okha

Commercial Value

The Sicklefin Devil Ray is used for its meat, skin, cartilage, liver oil, and gill plates. The meat from mobulids, including the Sicklefin Devil Ray, is often used locally or traded regionally for human consumption, animal feed, and shark bait. In some fisheries, this species is often ‘winged’ (i.e. removal of pectoral fins from body) with this product frozen and exported to Asia, particularly Thailand and Malaysia. The cartilage, the skin, which is commonly used for leather products (shoes, wallets, and knife handles), and the gill plates are exported to Asia. The gill plates in particular fetch high prices in Asia and are used for Chinese health tonics.

Threats

Mobulid rays, including the Sicklefin Devil Ray, are both targeted and caught incidentally in industrial and artisanal fisheries.

References

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